Sheet-winding indicator.



W. F. COOPER.

SHEET WINDING INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 7, 1912.

1 1 70,5 1 5 Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

WITNESSES INVENTOR y %WA% 7/7 F flap 97] WILLIAM F. COOPER, OF NORWALK, OHIO.

SHEET-WINDING INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

Application filed November 7, 1912. Serial No. 730,057.

To all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM F. COOPER, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Norwalk, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet- W'inding Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in sheet winding indicators, and has particular relation to traveling music sheets such as are used in connection with self-playing pianos and like instruments.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means for showing at all times whether the perforated music-sheet is traveling over the tracker-bar so that its note-perforations coincide in alinement with the respective tracker-orifices or ducts. The invention aims to accomplish this by simple and effective means so located or arranged that the operator may readily observe any defective or imperfect tracking of the sheet during its travel, it being understood that the music sheet spool, or the take-up roll, or both, or the tracker-bar, are generally provided with suitable adjusting mechanism by means of which the operator may correct imperfect travel or tracking of the perforated music sheet.

The invention consists in providing means in connection with the tracker-bar, and preferably, in the nature of a color contrasting with the sheet. which will indicate at one or the other of the sheet edges. any imperfect traveling or tracking of the sheet over the tracker bar.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, practical embodiments of the invention are illustrated and will be described in detail, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to in practising the invention without departing from the underlying principle of providing the tracker bar with a contrasting color which normally underlies the music sheet.

In the drawings: Figure 1 represents a plan view somewhat diagrammatic of a tracker mechanism with the tracker bar embodying my invention, the music-sheet being partly broken away for better illustration. Fig. 2 represents a plan view, somewhat diagrammatic, and partly broken away, of a tracker-bar and a music-sheet,

the tracker-bar constructed in accordance with my invention and the music sheet shown in an imperfect tracking position to illustrate the indication of such imperfect position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a part of a tracker bar of the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. Fig. 4 is a detached oerspective view of atracker bar partly broken away embodying the preferred form of my invention, and, Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig. illustratmg modifications of my invention.

Broadly, the invention consists in providing a contrasting line near each end of the tracker bar which contrasts with the sheet. Any lateral shifting of the musicshect from its true position results in imperfect alinement between the music-sheet perforations and the tracker-bar orifices, and is at once indicated by my invention, either at one edge or theother of the sheet, according to the direction of lateral movement of the sheet.

I may accomplish the object of my invention in various ways, the preferred method being shown in Figs. 1 to 4, wherein 10 is used to designate the tracker-bar, and 11 to designate the perforated music-sheet. In this preferred form, I provide the contrasting line 12 by means of two insert strips 14, 15, near each end of the tracker-bar, of any suitable material, the strips 14 being white, and the strips 15 being black in color. The strips 15 strongly contrast in color both to the tracker bar face and to the music-sheet,

and this contrasting color underlies the mu-' sic-sheet, so that any lateral shifting of the sheet will expose at one side edge or the other of the sheet, a broader line 12 and indicate at once that the sheet is tracking imperfectly. Imay accomplish the same result by providing the tracker-bar with white portions or elements 16 as in Fig. 5 and black portions or elements 17, or I may provide the contrasting color 18 throughout the race-way for the music-sheet as shown in Fig. 6, the end face portions 19 in this instance, bein either white, or they may be left the natural color of the face of the trackerbar.

In each embodiment, it is to be observed, the contrasting color normally underlies the music sheet, and this color contrasting with that of the sheet, immediately provides, at one or the other edge of said sheet, a visual color contrast indicating the imperfect tracking of the sheet. If the music sheet be a black or dark color, it is 01 course obvious that the underlying contrasting color should be white or at least of a light color. I have shown, in the preferred construction, the portions or elements 14, 15, as inlaid strips; obviously portions of the tracker-bar face could be painted, stained, or otherwise colored to provide the two portions or elements 1st, 15. With any of the forms, the music sheet and at least a portion of the raceway are oi contrasting colors, so that any deviation of the music sheet from its true course will provide a visual indication at one or the other of the edges of the sheet, of such contrast to the color of the sheet as to be noticeable to such extent that attention will obviously be directed thereto. This will be clearly evident by-reference to Fig. 2 wherein the sheet is shown as having shifted to the left, exposing at the right hand edge of the sheet the portion or element 15 which contrasts to the color of the sheet. Fig. 1 indicates the position of the sheet under perfeet tracking in which the element 15 is held unexposed by the sheet.

What ll claim is 1. In a tracker-box for pneumaticallyoperated instruments, a tracker over which a note-sheet passes, said tracker bearing upon its face adjacent to each end thereof, an in dicator of a color strongly contrasting with the color of the sheet and so located with relation to the ends of the tracker as to be entirely concealed when the sheet is tracking correctly, but visible at one end of the tracker when the sheet shifts laterally.

2. In combination, a tracker, a sheet adapted to be moved across said tracker, and means on the tracker and normally underlying the sheet for visually indicating lateral variations in the travel of the sheet, said means including a face contrasting in color with the color of the sheet.

In combination, a tracker, a sheet adapted to be moved across said tracker, and means on the tracker and normally underlying the sheet for visually indicating lateral variations in the travel of the sheet, said. means providing a visual color contrast with the sheet upon lateral shifting of the sheet, the contrast exposure being at that edge of the sheet which has moved inward.

at. In combination, a tracker, a sheet adapted to be moved across said tracker, means on the tracker and normally underlying the sheet for visually indicating lateral variations in the travel of the sheet, said means providing a visual color contrast with the sheet upon lateral shifting of the sheet,

the contrast exposure being at that edge of 1 the sheet which has moved inward, and elements having a color contrasting with that 01" and positioned outside said means and adapted to be normally exposed relatively to the sheet, the shifting of the latter carrying one sheet edge over the line formed by the contrasting colors.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM F. GOOPE Witnesses N. C. W'HITNEY, BEN. B. VVICKHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissicner of Patents. Washington, I). G. 

